Box forming machine



April 8, 1958 J. AQUILLA BOX FORMING MACHINE S Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1956 Tia. E.

INVENTQR. JoH/v A QU/L z A BOX FORMING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JZH/v A u/A z A Q MW BOX FORMING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 12, 1956 A V R1 E mm N NU M m@ U W A M C 0% Y Unie I States 2,829,569 Patented Apr. 8, 1958 2,829,569 BOX rouMtNo MACHINE John Aquiila, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application December 12, 1956, Serial No. 627,910

llClaims. c1. 93-451 The present invention relates to plastic box forming machines and, more particularly, to a machine for forming a relatively shallow, rectangular box member which may be the bottom or the top of a box but for convenience of terminology is referred to as a box herein.

The present invention is primarily concerned with the formation of boxes having a rectangular body which provides the top or bottom wall of the box and having four sides substantially perpendicularly disposed with re spect to the body with each side secured to an adjacent side at the corners of the box.

Heretofore, considerable difiiculty has been encountered in making such boxes in a rapid and economical manner to provide asneat joint at the corners.

Accordingly, the present invention aims to overcome such prior difficulties by providing a machine which practically simultaneously positions the sides of the box and effects securernent of adjacent sides at the corners.

An object of thepresent invention is to provide such a machine wherein all the sides are conditioned for securement and secured in practically a single operation.

Another object is to provide such a machine in which the box blank and means for applying adhesive for securing the sides at the corners are oriented with respect to each other, whereby proper application of the adhesive is assured.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein a simple mechanism effects operation of the applicators.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein such mechanism is under the control of the box forming means.

A further object is to accomplish the foregoing in a practical and economical manner.

Other and further objects will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming apart of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a plastic boxformed by the machine in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a blank from which the box is formed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the box forming machine.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along Fig. 3, illustrating a detail of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 on Fig. 5, illustrating another detail of the machine.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary front elevational views, partly in section, illustrating the operation of the machine.

the line 4-4 on and Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 on Fig. 7, illustrating still another detail of the machine.

In Fig. l, a relatively shallow, rectangular plastic box B is shown which has a bottom wall W and four sides S each adhesively secured to an adjacent side at the corners by a tab T. This box is formed from the plastic blank, shown in Fig. 2, which is cut to shape, is creased where the sides join the bottom wall and has the tabs at the ends of opposite sides inclined upwardly to facilitate formation and securement of the blank thereafter to provide the box. These blank forming operations are performed by a machine with which the present invention is not concerned. Preferably, the blank is formed of relatively thin sheet material, such as transparent plastic resin, which lends itself to forming by a heated die or heated mold and to securement of its corner tabs by adhesive.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, there is shown a machine which generally comprises a base 10, a mold 11 positioned on the base, a post 12 extending upwardly from the base adjacent the mold, a heated die 14 adapted to cooperate with the mold to form the blank into the box, an assembly 15 for supporting the die on the post and effecting upward and downward movement of the die, and an applicator assembly 16, described in detail hereinafter, for applying adhesive to the tabs just prior to the formation of the box. The die 14 or mold 11 may be heated in any conventional manner; however, it is preferable to heat the die 14 by electrical means (not shown) The mold 11 has a rectangular recess or cavity for receiving the lower portion of the die during the formation of the blank into the box. In order to provide a firm support for the bottom wall of the box during the operation of the die thereon, a platen 21 is yieldably supported within the recess of the mold by springs 22 which normally position the upper face of the platen flush with the upper edge of the recess. The top of the mold is adapted to support the box blank and, preferably, is provided with stops or projections 24 between which the blank is adapted to be positioned and thereby be oriented with respect to the mold recess.

The die operating assembly 15 includes a yoke or bracket 25 which comprises spaced apart upper and lower bearings 26 and 27 slidably mounted on the post 12, a lug 23 at its upper end, and an arm 29 at its lower end extending forwardly above the mold for supporting the die M at the under side thereof. This assembly further includes a stop 30 secured to the post above the lower bearing 27, a spring 31 under compression between the stop 30 and the upper bearing 26, a bracket member 32 secured to the post above the upper bearing 26 having a lug 33, and a lever 34. The lever has its inner end pivotally connected to the lug 33 by a pin 35 and is pivotally connected to the lug 28 outwardly of its inner end by a pin 36, whereby the outer end of the lever is adapted to be pulled downwardly to move the yoke and the die supported thereon in a downward direction. When the lever is released the spring 31 is effective to move the yoke upwardly and return the same to the position shown in Fig. 3. i

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, lateral alignment of the yoke is assured to maintain the die in registry with the mold recess 20 by a pin 37 depending from the stop 30, which pin fits into a slot or recess 33 at the back of the lower bearing 27.

The die 14, like the mold recess 20, is rectangular and is dimensioned to fit into the recess with suflicient clearance being allowed for the thickness of the blank material to prevent shearing thereof when the die enters the mold recess.

The applicator assembly 16 includes a cross bar 40 posileg 41 secured to the top of the post (Figs. 3 and 5) and having an aperture 42 at each end thereof, a lower, second cross bar 43 secured to the arm 29 (Figs. 5 and 6) for movement with the die thereon and extending across the middle of the die and the mold in the same plane as the cross bar and having a slot 44 at each of the free ends thereof, and a pair of generally flat members 45 having portions slidably mounted in the apertures 42 and slots 44 of the cross bars 40 and 43, respectively (Figs. 5 and 6).

The upper ends 46 of the members 45 are dimensioned to extend through the apertures 42 and are provided with a stop 47 adapted to engage the upper surface of the cross bar 40 for the purpose about to be described. Intermediate portions of the members 45 are shaped to provide cams 48 adapted to be engaged by the cross bar 43 to move the members 45 outwardly for the purpose also about to be described. A spring 49 under tension urges the cam portions into engagement with the cross bar 43.

The lower ends of the members 45 each have a horizontal element 50 secured thereto which elements are parallel to the sides of the die. Each of these elements supports a pair of applicators 51, such as a brush or dauber adapted to retain a supply of adhesive, by means of rods 52, threadedly secured, to facilitate vertical adjustment of the applicators with respect to the die. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the cross bar 43 and the earns 48 are dimensioned and arranged to position the applicators adjacent opposite sides of the die, and the rods 52 are positioned and adjusted so that the applicators extend slightly below the under side of the die adjacent the corners thereof and thereby are in position to move across opposite sides of the blank to which the tabs are to be secured.

In operation, the elements of the machine normally are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 with die 14 spaced upwardly of the mold 11. Sufficient adhesive is applied to the applicators, which adhesive is absorbed thereby, for securing a number of tabs before the supply of adhesive need be replenished. A blank, such as shown in Fig. 2, is placed on the mold 11 and is oriented with respect to the mold recess, and the forward end of the lever 34 is pulled downwardly to bring the die 14 into the position shown in Fig. 7. At this instance, the stops 47 engage the upper surface of the cross bar 40 to arrest further downward movement of the members 45, the applicators 51 touch the sides S of blank adjacent the sides having the tabs T thereon (Figs. 7 and 9), and the die 14 is just about to engage the wall W of the blank.

As the elements of the machine are so positioned, the cross bar 43 is just about to engage the cams 48, whereupon downward movement of the die 14 into engagement With'the blank cause the cross bar to slide across the upper ends of the cams and spread the members 45. Such movement causes the applicators 51 to move from the position near the wall W, shown in full lines, across the sides S (Fig. 9), thereby wiping the sides S to apply adhesive thereon.

As downward movement of the die continues, for example to the position shown in Fig. 8, the applicators 51 move to the position shown in broken lines (Fig. 9) the lower surface of the die presses the wall W of the blank against the platen 21 which yields, and the die enters the mold recess 20 to draw the sides of the blank inwardly With the preformed tabs T disposed inwardly of the sides to which the adhesive has been applied. Further downward movement of the die, causes the tabs to be firmly pressed against the adhesive and the corners of the sides to be squared by the cooperation of the die and the mold to form the box shown in Fig. 1.

The lever 34 now is raised to move the die out of the mold recess, whereby, the spring urged platen 21 follows the box and ejects the same from the mold. When the die has been raised-to its initial position (Figs. 3 and 5), the box either drops therefrom or can be readily removed l to prepare the machine for the next box forming operation.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple, practical and economical machine for forming plastic boxes in a rapid and reliable manner. The sides of the box are neatly squared, with the tabs on the inside, and the tabs are securely fastened by the adhesive to maintain the box in this condition. The machine, while light in weight, is sufficiently rugged in construction to withstand such rough usage to which it may normally be subjected.

Another advantage of the machine is that it can be readily converted to forming boxes of different shapes and sizes. This. is accomplished by substituting the desired mold and die and cross bars and applicator supporting elements which are dimensioned to cooperate with the particular mold and die to apply the adhesive at the proper portion of the blank. Also, the machine may readily be converted to foot instead of hand operation.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matters are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a plastic box forming machine for securing tabs at the corners of a generally rectangular blank to adjacent sides of the blank, the combination of a base, a mold supported on said base having a recess corresponding to the general shape of the box to be formed and being adapted to support the blank above said recess, a post mounted on said base adjacent said mold, a heated die shaped to enter said recess and to form the blank into the box, means on said post for slidably supporting said die for registry with said recess, means for moving said last mentioned means to move said die into and out of said recess, means movable with said die including applicators for applying adhesive to a portion of the blank to be secured to the tabs, means for moving said applicators outwardly across the blank operable by the die supporting means during downward movement thereof, and means for arresting the movement of said applicator means when said die enters said recess, whereby upon formation of the box the tabs are adhesively secured to adjacent sides of the box.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said arresting means include a cross bar mounted on said post adjacent the upper end thereof.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said means movable with said die include a pair of members each having a pair of applicators thereon.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said means for moving said applicators outwardly include a cam portion on said members and a cross bar for engaging said cam portion.

5. A machine according to claim 4, wherein a resilient element urges said cam portions into engagement with said cross bar.

6. In a plastic box forming machine for securing tabs at the corners of a generally rectangular blank to adjacent sides of the blank, the combination of a base, a mold supported on said base having a recess corresponding in shape to the box to be formed and being adapted to support the blank above said recess, a post mounted on said base adjacent said mold, a heated die shaped to enter said recess and form the blank into the box means slidably mounted on said post for supporting said die for registry with said recess, means for moving said last mentioned means to move said die into and out of said recess, a cross bar adjacent the upper end of said post, a second cross bar mounted on said die supporting means, a pair of members slidably suspended by said first cross bar having applicators at the lower ends thereof for applying adhesive to a portion of the blank to be secured to the tabs and having cam portions in engagement with said second cross bar, and a spring interconnecting said members to urge said cam portion into engagement with said second cross bar.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said members have an element at the lower end thereof for supporting a pair of applicators.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein said applicators are adjustably mounted on said element.

9. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said first cross bar has apertures for slidably receiving said membets, and said second cross bar has slots at ends thereof for receiving said cam portions, whereby said applicators are oriented with respect to said mold.

10. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said mold has means for orienting the blank with respect to said mold.

11. A machine according to claim 9, wherein said members have stop means at the upper end thereof for engaging said first cross bar to arrest the downward movement of said applicators and thereby cause said cam portions to move said members to effect outward movement of said applicators across the blank to apply the adhesive 10 thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,705,748 Bridgman Mar. 19, 1929 

